Alexei "The Cuban Missile" Ramirez has added base stealing to his repertoire which has garnered him the full time second base job for Chicago.

We are just days past the All-Star break and there are several players on the fast track to steal totals. Take a look as we review those who have who have racked up some stolen base totals in the last 14 days.

BIG BAT, WILL RUN

Josh Hamilton, TEX ~ It appears that Hamilton wants to increase his fantasy worth as he has matched his three homeruns with three stolen bases and a .316 batting average. If there ever was a keeper in the making, Josh Hamilton is one.

Matt Holliday, COL ~ Regardless of all the trade speculations, Holliday continues to do what he has done best in his short career, produce offense. Holliday rivals Hamilton’s production with three homeruns, three stolen bases, with a slightly lower batting average (.290).

Matt Kemp, LAD ~ Continuing to show progress, Kemp joins the elite this week (Hamilton, Holliday). Kemp is slowly emerging as a must-have player in fantasy league play as he chips in with his own set of threes, including a .313 batting average over the last 14 days.

HEATING UP

David Wright, NYM ~ Not that he has been completely disappointing but most fantasy owners expected more from David Wright, more often. Wright, along with the whole Mets’ organization, seems to be turning a corner though. With two homeruns and two stolen bases and a .422 on base percentage, it looks like “second-half’ Wright is about to turn it on again.

Carlos Beltran, NYM ~ Joining Wright in this section is teammate Carlos Beltran. Highly sought every year for his five-tool potential. Beltran, like Wright, appears to finally be delivering at a level that is worthy of his lofty fantasy draft pick. Two stolen bases and two homeruns in the last 14 days with a .333 batting average will make several fantasy owners happy.

Alex Rios, TOR ~ Here is another player that has not quite lived up to early season projections. Partly due to the lack of protection at the plate as Vernon Wells has hit the disabled list more than it seems he has hit the field. Rios is heating up at the plate (.290 batting average), hitting his first homerun in 71 at-bats, driving in 10 base runners, and swiping four on his own.

Grady Sizemore, CLE ~ I know that Sizemore is expected to hit homeruns and steal bases, but he seems to have broken out of his hitting slump. I make that statement as we all expected him to hit .290 or better and over the past two weeks, he has done just that, hitting .308 and showing no signs of stopping.

STEAL? YES! HIT? NOT SO MUCH

Caesar Izturis, STL ~ There is not doubt that Izturis will help you out in the stolen base category, grabbing four in the last two weeks, but with a .188 batting average, the question is…is he worth using in a fantasy format? Only in the deepest of NL Only formats.

Jonny Gomes, TB ~ What is Gomes doing back on this list? I have noticed a trend here... Hit a few homeruns, dazzle us with a few stolen bases, and then head to the disabled list. With a .214 batting average and the propensity for injury, he is worth mentioning in the article, but not in waiver wire talks.

Willy Taveras,COL ~ Of course Taveras would bat .111 after I predict him to be the stolen base leader in the Burning Up the Bases2008 Mid-season predictions. Thankfully, he did manage to steal three bases in this same time period and honestly believe that as long as he can stay away from any long-term injury, will still steal the most bases in 2008.

EXPECTED MORE?

B.J. Upton, TB ~ I am one of many who projected 20-25 homeruns from this youngster in 2008. Although the power is missing, Upton has stolen 30 bases to date, three in the past 14 days. With 58 runs and 44 runs batted in and a .274 batting average, he is still a valuable long-term keeper, the question will be, can he get back to the projected 20+ homerun guy we all drafted him to be?

Jimmy Rollins, PHI ~ Despite the long injury issues; the lack of power has many people frustrated, likely starting with Jimmy Rollins. 25 stolen bases in as little time as he has played with 41 runs and 32 runs batted in is still really good. With a .271 batting average and Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Pat Burrell all starting to do there share, the team could see everyone get hot, and that hopefully includes the thump in Rollins bat.

Rickie Weeks, MIL ~ Had you simply looked at his recent statistics over the past two weeks, 11 runs, one homerun, seven runs batted in, three stolen bases, and a .306 batting average, you would think that you are getting a strong output from this player. However, the team obviously does not feel this way as they recently traded with the San Francisco Giants for aged-veteran Ray Durham. With that information alone, I say that Rickie Weeks’ owners obviously expect more than what they are about to get out of him, or have so far this season.

WAIVER WIRE WAVES

Willie Bloomquist, SEA ~ When anything good occurs in Seattle, even from a perennial utility player (more due to injury than talent), it is important to celebrate it. Bloomquist has batted .323 and stolen four bases in the past two weeks, easily making him one of the brighter stories coming out of the Mariner Nation. With Raul Ibanez involved in trade talks, it can only mean increased time on the field for Bloomquist, which would include more stolen base opportunities.

Alexei Ramirez, CWS ~ One of my favorite young players, Ramirez is adding steals to his offensive output over the last 14 days, giving him a higher pick-up rate than we have seen so far. Stealing four bases and batting .359 has increased his playing time and basically ripped it out of the clutches of hard-hitting, oft injured, Juan Uribe.

Mike Cameron, MIL ~ The deterrent for picking up Cameron is his propensity for striking out and low batting average, but when you consider the amount of offense on this Brewers’ squad, you have to like his chances for runs and runs batted in. Cameron will steal bases, demonstrated by the two he stole since the All-Star break, and he will also get on base a lot (.410 on-base percentage). With a high on-base percentage, plenty of dynamite in the line-up, and the ability to put the ball out of the park and scorch the base paths, Cameron may be one of the best players on the Waiver Wire in your league today.